That’s the several million dollar question these days. Airlines are convinced that passengers want WiFi even though the usage rates are far lower than predicted. The Internet providers served up analysis that claimed 70 percent of passengers would log into the Web, but history is showing far less — more in the 20 percent range.
Some people enjoy the refuge from the Web and cell phones that air travel provides. But soon, the excuse of non-connectivity will be a thing of the past.
Faster Internet isn’t only in the interests of passengers; many airlines are looking towards speedy Web connections to allow them to eliminate costly and heavy entertainment equipment. In a world of good Web connections, the need for back-of-the-seat monitors and entertainment centers could be eliminated. Everyone could fly in a world of bring-your-own-device (BYOD).
Then, passengers could decide what movies they want to see, what games they want to play and what work they want to accomplish on their own smartphones, tablets or laptops. The airlines could provide a free Web connection only for entertainment that would be a big money saver over the current instruments. And, passengers would have the opportunity to sign in to their own Web experience for a charge.
Until now, most planes didn’t have WiFi connections. Even today, the connections are relatively clunky and slow, especially when more than a handful of passengers are signed onto the Web at the same time on the same plane. New high-speed Web delivery is being developed and should be starting installation during the next year.
On Wednesday, Gogo Inc., the largest provider of inflight Internet in the U.S., plans to unveil a system that uses a combination of satellites and cellular towers, connecting airplanes to the Web at speeds six times as fast as its current best option.
Virgin America Inc. will launch Gogo’s new inflight Wi-Fi service in the second half of 2014 and says it expects to eventually upgrade its 53 aircraft with the product.
That comes after JetBlue Airways Corp. received government approval last week to install a new high-capacity satellite link on many of its aircraft, an inflight Wi-Fi solution that can support streaming video to fliers’ devices from Netflix Inc. and Hulu, among others.
JetBlue, which has lacked inflight Internet, plans to launch the service on some aircraft this year and equip its entire fleet of 180 aircraft by the end of 2015.
Internet connections are found on about 60 percent of domestic flights today. Delta and Southwest are leading the pack with numbers of equipped aircraft. American has just over 450 planes equipped. USAir offers Web connections on around 275 planes. And, United Airlines is the real laggard with less than 100 aircraft decked out with Web connections.
As mentioned above, this installation can be a win-win for airlines and passengers. Airlines can stream movies and lighten their load of electronics and passengers can stay connected and get more work accomplished while winging across the country and eventually while traveling overseas.
What are your thoughts? Will you take more advantage of the Web if good, fast service was available on flights? Do you think airlines will use these faster Web connections to serve up entertainment to individual devices? Or, would you rather leave airline travel time a window within which we can all decompress? Let us know in the comments.
Photo: American Airlines
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
